Update: Don’t Expect Canada-EU Trade Deal Next Week

Ottawa Friday dampened hopes that Canada will finally strike a free-trade deal with the European Union during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s trip to Europe next week.

Andrew MacDougall, Mr. Harper’s chief spokesman, told reporters on a pre-trip conference call not to expect a deal, saying there are “a few issues” to firm up. He declined to talk about the sticking points, saying it was a “very complicated exercise.”

Mr. Harper’s tour starts in London Tuesday, and he has scheduled stops in Paris and Dublin before heading to Northern Ireland to take part on the Group of Eight leaders’ summit June 17-18.

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